Fleeing from Deputies, Woman Critically Hurt in Minnesota Crash

Mar 21, 2025

A 50-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries Friday after crashing while fleeing law enforcement in Pennington County.

According to initial information from the Minnesota State Patrol, Michelle Marie Holter, of Thief River Falls, was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe northbound on State Highway 32 around 12:08 p.m. on March 21, 2025.

Holter then allegedly collided head-on with a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado that was southbound near mile marker 107. She had been fleeing from deputies with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the crash in North Township.

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The Patrol says Holter was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by ambulance to Sanford Health with life-threatening injuries. Officials have not yet released an update on her condition as of publication.

The Chevrolet Silverado was driven by Dale Jeffrey Westerlund, 48, also of Thief River Falls. He was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. A 42-year-old passenger in Westerlund’s vehicle, Dustin Ray Holmstrom, of Newfolden, was also uninjured.

Authorities said there was no indication that alcohol was detected for any of those involved in the crash and road conditions at the time were dry. Pennington County deputies were assisted at the scene by Thief River Falls police, firefighters and Sanford Ambulance.

The State Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash and further details on what prompted the initial pursuit have not yet been released. A booking photo for Holter was not immediately available and a search of state court records turned up no previous criminal history.

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